Essential Reading

by
Tahir Shah

TRAVEL NARRATIVE

2006

PAPER

343 PAGES

A great storyteller, of Afghan descent and English-raised, Shah leads us through Moroccan society and culture with deft portraits of ordinary neighbors and craftsmen as he and his wife transform a crumbling palace in old Casablanca. (MRC66, $16.00)

by
Fatima Mernissi

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

1995

PAPER

242 PAGES

FAVORITE

This captivating memoir by one of Morocco's most outspoken women opens, "I was born in a harem in 1940 in Fez, a ninth-century Moroccan city." Mernissi captures not only the spirit of the place, but also the hierarchy and decorum of a Muslim family compound. (MRC10, $17.00)

by
Stoeltie, Barbara and Rene

CULTURAL PORTRAIT

2011

HARD COVER

280 PAGES

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

From exquisite rugs and textiles to vibrant mosaics, courtyards and homes, this gorgeous photographic collection celebrates the beauty and allure of Morocco's architecture, with a particular focus on interiors. (MRC71, $29.99)

by
Julius Honnor

GUIDEBOOK

2010

PAPER

240 PAGES

This compact, informative guide zeroes in on highly recommended excursions, experiences and itineraries, including a concise overview of the region, its history, nature, architecture and culture. With enticing color photographs, helpful travel details and maps. (AFR254, $21.95)

by
Barnaby Rogerson

GUIDEBOOK

2010

PAPER

304 PAGES

This personal, comprehensive handbook combines Rogerson's insightful cultural and historical background with his savvy practical information and recommendations on what to see and where to stay and eat. (MRC50, $21.95)

by
Jillian York

GUIDEBOOK

2006

PAPER

168 PAGES

History, religion, daily life, food, health and safety are all covered in this accessible pocket guide to Moroccan customs, etiquette and culture, by an author who lives and teaches there. (MRC70, $9.95)

by
Barnaby Rogerson

HISTORY

2000

PAPER

408 PAGES

Wide-ranging, accessible and effectively condensed, this brief history marches confidently through the centuries, covering key events and personalities in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria to 1999. (NAF01, $15.95)

by
Stoeltie, Barbara and Rene

CULTURAL PORTRAIT

2011

HARD COVER

280 PAGES

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

From exquisite rugs and textiles to vibrant mosaics, courtyards and homes, this gorgeous photographic collection celebrates the beauty and allure of Morocco's architecture, with a particular focus on interiors. (MRC71, $29.99)

by
Elizabeth Warnock Fernea

TRAVEL NARRATIVE

1988

PAPER

382 PAGES

Fernea's account of her unpredictable journey though the private and public world's of a traditional Muslim city includes marvelous descriptions of daily life in and around the medina in Marrakech. (MRC29, $26.95)

by
Tahir Shah

BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

2009

PAPER

400 PAGES

Shah (The Caliph's House) weaves his own family tradition of storytelling with commentary on Moroccan spiritual traditions, culture and history in this account of his adopted home on the sea in Casablanca. (MRC80, $16.00)

by
Edith Wharton

TRAVEL NARRATIVE

2010

PAPER

223 PAGES

Wharton's enjoyable account of her month-long journey through Morocco after WWI captures the landscapes, architecture and many aspects of Muslim culture and history with emphasis on the cities of Rabat, Fez and Marrakech. (MRC02, $10.95)

by
Elias Canetti

TRAVEL NARRATIVE

2002

PAPER

104 PAGES

OUT OF PRINT

Canetti portrays the people and life of the city's bazaars, cafes, and streets in a series of acutely observed essays, including vivid sketches of the storytellers in the Djema el Fna, the everpresent beggars and rituals of Moroccan family life in the 1950s. Canetti is particularly good on the Marrakesh Mellah, the old but then still living Jewish quarter. (MRC112, $12.95)

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